Psalm 119:29

Remove from me the way of lying:
and grant me thy law graciously.

~ Psalm 119:29

A heart that loves truth also hates falsehood. A heart that seeks truth also eschews lies. “The way of lying” is the road or path of deceptions of all sorts. The Psalmist desired them all swept away. He didn’t want to tinker with white lies and half-truths. He diden’t want to engage in socially acceptable misdirections. He prayed to the God of truth for protection from lying.

He did not seek a void. He wanted lying removed that God’s law might occupy. The request is a very humble one. Graciously here has the thought of bending, or stooping in kindness to an inferior. He acknowledged God superior, yea, even supreme. He bowed low and appealed to God’s goodness and kindness. God delights in this kind of prayer (1 Peter 5:5-7).

Listen to Psalm 119 Sermon Series

Psalm 119:28

My soul melteth for heaviness:
strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

~ Psalm 119:28

Deep distresses can melt the soul. They may come from sin within or without. They may come from the sorrows of life on a cursed earth. Melting is a good image regardless of the source. In our strength, we feel ourselves to be solid and firm. We address the day as a confident pugilist advances from the corner. But heaviness turns our firm insides to jelly. The heart and the stomach switch places under heavy grief. We all come to know such sorrows if we live long enough.

The Psalmist knew the pain. He knew the dissipating of strong-bone resilience in the face grievous weight. He also knew the remedy or the help needed. He sought strengthening according to God’s Word. Friend and foe alike may flee and forsake us. Counselors may fail, but the Word of God abides and stands sure (Psalm 119:89). God’s Word is ever our infallible guide and nourisher of our strength.

Listen to Psalm 119 Sermon Series

Psalm 119:27

Make me to understand the way of thy precepts:
so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

~ Psalm 11:27

He prayed for understanding. He sought discernment. Precepts, collectively, speaks of all of God’s law, but the understanding sought is not theoretical, but practical. He wanted to understand the way of God’s precepts.

Derek, the Hebrew here translated way, literally means a road or path. Figuratively, it refers to a course of life or a life’s journey. He understood God’s law was not high, airy concepts but rather real directions on the ground. He later wrote, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Solomon counseled:

22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
– Proverbs 6:22-23

Understanding the way of God’s precepts would lead him to talking of God’s wondrous works. This sort of progression is common in this Psalm. He previously wrote he would hide God’s word in his heart (Psalm 119:11). He prayed that God would not hide His word from him (Psalm 119:19). Here he said he would not hide God’s word from others.

Listen to Psalm 119 Sermon Series

Psalm 119:26

I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me:
teach me thy statutes.
~ Psalm 119:26

The Psalmist confesses to God honestly and sincerely. He also declares he was heard. His prayer here is unhindered and that is a great blessing.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
– Psalm 66:18-20

Our prayers to God can be hindered and regarding iniquity is a sure way. Prayers can be hindered in other ways. Peter warned husbands to honor their wives “that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). The Psalmist here is blessed for he declared his ways to God and God heard him.

The first prayer is a confession and the second is a petition, “Teach me thy statutes.” This prayer is prayed repeatedly throughout this long Psalm. The repetition highlights the inexhaustible treasure of God’s Word and the exhaustible limits of our understanding. There is always more to know, more to learn. This is a foretaste of heavenly glory where God will unfold the riches of His grace “in the ages to come” (Ehpesians 2:7).

This continual prayer is a continual reminder of our weakness and limitations. It is also an humble confession that we don’t know and understand all. The prayer acknowledges God as the source of all true knowledge and humbly bows before Him as student to Teacher.

Listen to Psalm 119 Sermon Series

Psalm 119:25

My soul cleaveth unto the dust:
quicken thou me according to thy word.

~ Psalm 119:25

The Psalmist begins this stanza with a statement of great lament and grief. He doesn’t seem grieved with troubles from without, but rather with those within. This cry reminds us of Paul’s wrestle with the body of death in Romans 7. Of course, the Apostle knew that his victory and deliverance came through Jesus Christ (Romans 7:24-25).

Though he doesn’t point to the exact source of trouble, he seeks remedy in life through the Word. Quickening is first mentioned in this verse and will be mentioned again eight times. The word here means to live or to make alive, which is the sense here.

The Psalmist repeatedly prays to be quickened and we should not confuse that with being born again. New birth is a quickening, but not what the Psalmist is seeking. He is seeking life and vitality through the Word. He wants the Word made alive to him. He wants better light and motivation from the Word. He wants understanding and that understanding to energize him in life.

Listen to Psalm 119 Sermon Series

Psalm 119:24

Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
~ Psalm 119:24

In the midst of adversity, the Psalmist delighted in God’s Word. The previous verses reveal he is in the midst of persecution. When someone speaks against us, we are sorely tempted to respond and retaliate if necessary. He wasn’t distracted. He found delight and sure counsel in the Word.

It seems this Psalm was written over a long time, or at least was written later in life with reflection on life. We have a young man in the previous stanza (Psalm 119:9-16). He is starting on his way. As we come to the present stanza (Psalm 119:17-24), he is living life, interacting with the world, and engaging in God’s service.

He’s not writing about hypothetical speculations. We often speculate about new situations. If we are starting a new job, moving to a new town, etc., we have ideas about how things are going to be. Often, those ideas are far from the reality we experience.

The Psalmist had made some resolutions in prospect that he was realizing. He had resolved to meditate and delight in God’s Word and that he would not forget it (Psalm 119:15-17). As we close the present stanza, he is living out those resolves. He was meditating in God’s Word despite temptations to distraction (Psalm 119:23). He was delighting and remembering despite the confusion of false speech around him (Psalm 119:24).

In our quiet times alone with Word, let us make holy resolves. Let us cling to those resolves in the stormy, tumultuous sea of life.

Listen to Psalm 119 Sermon Series

Psalm 119:23

Princes also did sit and speak against me:
but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

~ Psalm 119:23

The Psalmist was not subject to idle slanders. He was not facing mere neighborhood gossip. He was plotted against by princes. In other words, his conspirators had the authority and wherewithal to carry out their evil designs against him. He was humanly powerless to prevent them.

The second phrase reveals his response to their evil plots. He could be gripped by fear for what they could possibly do to him. He could spend his time trying to defend himself. He could counter-plot revenge against them. He could do many things in response to this persecution.

He chose rather to meditate in God’s statutes. He chose rather to immerse himself in the truths of God’s Word than the lies of men. When slandered and spoken against, we are sorely tempted to distraction from God’s Word. We need the discerning spirit of Nehemiah when responding distractions.

And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
– Nehemiah 6:3

Listen to Psalm 119 Sermon Series

Psalm 119:22

Remove from me reproach and contempt;
for I have kept thy testimonies.
~ Psalm 119:22

Reproach and contempt are here put for the Psalmist’s enemies, his accusers. He names those who speak evil against him in verse 23. He values integrity and a good name. Scripture teaches us the value of a good name is better than great riches (Proverbs 22:1). Earthly riches often come at the expense of a good name.

To ask for the removal of reproach and contempt signaled that he was suffering for righteousness’ sake (1 Peter 4:12-16). Otherwise, his prayer would have been confession and repentance.

The second phrase of the verse confirms his suffering from false accusations. He could plead that he had kept the testimonies of God and had not offended as he was accused. Keeping God’s testimonies was what brought the worldly reproach on him.

Of course, our comfort in such suffering is not a reward in this life.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
– Matthew 5:11-12

Listen to Psalm 119 Sermon Series

Psalm 119:21

Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed,
which do err from thy commandments.

~ Psalm 119:21

The proud are contrasted with the stranger in verse 20. The strangers, the pilgrims, are humbled in their circumstances. They are not home. They are searching, longing. The proud are not longing. It’s the nature of pride to think they have need of nothing. With no longing, they have no expectation of grace. Rather, they are rebuked and cursed. They do not find favor.

Peter wrote of the proud:

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
– 1 Peter 5:5-7

Pride is an abomination to God (Proverbs 6:17). He does not reward it with favor. It is a root of sin and a source of many evils in life. Pride leads to strife, discontentment, envy, bitterness, and hatred.

Pride leads to erring from God’s Word. Pride is the opposite of humility and isn’t teachable. Pride leads us to conclude our own thoughts and ways are right (Proverbs 12:15; 16:2; 21:2). Pride leads to self-righteousness and ultimately to Hell if not repented of (Luke 18:9-14). Heed the rebuke.

Listen to Psalm 119 Sermon Series

« Previous PageNext Page »